Best Moments in Phuket, Khao Lak, Bangkok · Day by Day Itinerary |Tony Johor Kaki Travels for Food · Heritage · Culture

I am in Phuket, Khao Lak, and Bangkok for a week. This is my first trip by air out of Singapore since the borders reopened (post-Covid). In this post, I will share as much detail as possible on my personal experiences and observations about procedures, peoples, places, and the food I encounter during the trip.

Pre-departure Checklist

1. Passport 🎗 Ensure at least six months validity

2. Certificate of Vaccination 🎗 Get notarised certificate of vaccination with QR codes from Notarise SG. I printed hardcopy to keep with me.

3. PCR Booking receipt 🎗 You will require a PCR test on arrival at the airport. Book your test here 👈 When booking is successful, a receipt will be sent to your email address. You are required to show the immigration officer your PCR booking receipt. I printed a hardcopy to keep with me. [Update: Not required effective from 1 May 2022.]

4. SHA Hotel Booking 🎗 Print and bring your hotel confirmation letter. Your hotel must be SHA (Safety & Health Administration) certified by Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to meet pandemic-level safety and health standards. [Update: Not required effective from 1 May 2022.]

5. Insurance Cover 🎗 Requires USD20,000 coverage for Covid related medical expenses. I printed a hardcopy of my insurance cover to keep with me.

6. Thailand Pass 🎗 With 1,2,5 ready, apply for Thailand Pass online here 👈 click. Once approved, a PDF version of Thailand Pass with QR code with be sent to you by email. Download onto your mobile and be prepared to show it to immigration officer in Thailand. ~~Though not required,~~ I printed a hardcopy to keep with me (this turned out to be the document that I was required to show the most times).

Note: These requirements may change.

Day One · Phuket · 20 Apr 2022

Day Two · Phuket · 21 Apr 2022

Thai style Hainanese chicken rice may look plain and dry but is actually tenderly moist and packed with subtle natural chicken sweetness. Many people feel that chicken rice is nothing without the flavoursome and aromatic rice cooked with chicken stock and fat. Patong's best known Hainanese chicken stall Briley has both good chicken and rice. Comes with the signature Thai style chicken rice dip made with fermented soy bean paste and chili, ginger and garlic.

More on Briley Chicken Rice in Patong 👈 click

More on Chillva Market 👈 click

Day Three · Phuket 🚐 Khao Lak · 22 Apr 2022

Stumbled upon Ding Li Ji Fan restaurant along picturesque Thalang Road in Old Phuket Town. DLJF serves Chinese roast meats, pork bone soup (bak kut teh) and Thai style Hainanese chicken rice. I love the natural sweet taste of DLJF's tender poached chicken, aromatic rice cooked in chicken stock and fat, and signature spicy Thai style chicken rice dip with savoury tao jiao (fermented soy bean). DLJF is beautifully decked out in heritage hip and has many spots for that Instagram moment.

More on Ding Li Ji Fan chicken rice in Old Phuket Town 👈 click

Leaving Phuket, on our way to Khao Lak La Vela Resort by road, we stopped over for khanom jeen in Saphan Hin, an old mining town. I took a snap of locals having breakfast (Johor Kaki is like that 😬 😛 ). They were having khanom jeen which is like a sort of curry bee hoon but much more elaborate. The bee hoon texture is like Tamil putu mayam, soft and absorbs flavours well. They are slathered with many choices of curry from fish to crab, chicken and beef, etc. Tried them all 😀 All were nice and my favourite was crab because I love their crustacean umami. The "curry bee hoon" is eaten with "ulam" or salad of different beans, vegetables and herbs. Then, there are side dishes like fried chicken, spicy fish cake, hor mok pla (like fish otak otak). So many textures and flavours. I haven't even mentioned desserts yet 😬 😋 Prices are very affordable too as it is a staple especially in southern Thailand.

More about Khanom Jeen Saphan Hin 👈 click

Day Four · Khao Lak · 23 Apr 2022

Day Five · Khao Lak · 24 Apr 2022

Day Six · Khao Lak 🛫 Bangkok · 25 Apr 2022

Day Seven · Bangkok · 26 Apr 2022

Day Eight · Bangkok · 27 Apr 2022

Day Nine · Bangkok · 28 Apr 2022

Day Ten · Bangkok 🛬 Singapore · 29 Apr 2022

Follow this post as I am writing up the best food and places from this 10 day trip. What have I missed? Share your Phuket & Bangkok experiences with us 🙏

Written by Tony Boey on 20 Apr 2022

Permission:

Image of Phang-Nga courtesy of Wikipedia.

6 comments:

Tony Johor Kaki20 April 2022 at 23:43
Richard Toh said on Johor Kaki Facebook:

"Suggest you visit the nightly food hawkers along Kalim beach. Go before sunset for a lovely makan by the beach. Food is mainly halal.
Kalim Market
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Dk53Sgia3kUtzhae9
Our favourite is the "satay stall" of various meats. Stall usual near the northern end of hawkers / opposite the Family mart. Easy to spot as there's always plenty of people at stall.
You'll find plenty of locals there as the food is very affordable. Less tourists there as it's a long walk from Patong and you'll need a scooter or transport to get there. But it's worth it. We can go there almost nightly as there's enough variety to our tummy filled for several nights.
Enjoy"
Anonymous30 April 2022 at 10:32
Just found your blog and enjoy reading about your food adventures and travels! So happy to find a food blog that is not "sponsored"
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